Russia: Anti drug and alcohol project

13/06/2006 - An anti drug and alcohol project has been put in place thanks to the collaboration of SUAL Holding, the Ural Technical University and local NGOs.

The Ural-based SUAL Holding was awarded with the prize "For Successful Social Partnership" in June in Ekaterinburg (Sverdlov region) for two programmes aiming to reduce drug and alcohol addiction and to provide prophylaxis and harm reduction in the field of HIV/AIDS. The projects were implemeted in cooperation with the National Peace Foundation, USA and the Institute for Gender and social politics, Moscow.

On the basis of the Ural Technical University a special chair was established for the qualification of students of social work and medicine, specialised in working with victims of drugs, alcohol and HIV/AIDS. Regional NGOs offering services for drug and alcohol addicts receive advice and professional training through these centres as well.

"We cannot be indifferent to the problems of the region where our enterprise is located. It is not enough to pay taxes and to provide our staff with working places – we are obliged to contribute to the solution of the social problems of the region where SUAL Group is working." commented Viktor Vekselberg, director of the holding.